This Valentine’s Day weekend, Saturday, February 13, 2016, Love was in the air and on the stage at Bergen PAC in Englewood, NJ. Darlene Love, famous for her back-up vocals on such monster hits as “Be My Baby” and “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling,” has finally come into her own with a new album and concert tour at the tender age of 74!
Performing with a powerful 8-piece band and 3 megatalented backup singers, Ms. Love commanded the stage with a first-half set of new songs written by such well-known songwriters as Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil, Desmond Child & Joan Jett, Elvis Costello, Bruce Springsteen, and more. All of the songs are on her new solo album released in 2015 by Columbia Records and produced by Stevie Van Zandt, ironically titled “Introducing Darlene Love.”
Under the musical direction of guitarist, Marc Ribler, Ms. Love sang, danced, and embraced the audience with her expert vocals and positive message. Whether she was blending her mighty voice with her hand-picked choir of back-up vocalists or singing a duet with Marc, these talented professionals supported her powerhouse voice in all its glory.
Throughout the evening, the love and respect this group has for one another shone through. For example, although Ms. Love’s pipes are definitely “diva quality,” at her performances, she chooses to share the spotlight with her back-up vocalists, Milton Vann, Baritone Mkenzie, and Ula Hedwig, both as a unit and as solo singers. Hearing them add their own vocal flavor and spin to Love’s songs made for an evening bursting with energy and filled with standing ovations.
Looking ever the diva in her sequined hot pants and curls, Ms. Love sang from her heart and soul on a set of appealing new songs including Stevie Van Zandt’s “Among the Believers,” Michael Des Barres’ & Paul Ill’s “Painkiller,” and Jimmy Webb’s brilliant “Who Under Heaven,” which — even for those unfamiliar with them before the performance — were easy to instantly enjoy.
Ms. Love’s second act featured hits from her past. Sharing the stage with Ula Hedwich, one of Bette Midler’s original Harlettes and her friend and colleague of 35 years, Darlene shared stories of her days as a back-up singer (with the likes of Elvis, Sinatra, the Beach Boys, and so many more!) and performed such classics as “Wait Til’ My Bobby Gets Home” and “Today I Met the Boy I’m Gonna Marry.”
She also talked about her appearance in the documentary film, “20 Steps to Stardom,” and of the difficulties she’s had to endure over the years. Despite all the ups and downs, however, Ms. Love still sings the songs she’s helped to make famous — accompanied by all the “oohs,” “ahs,” and “sha-la-las” you might associate with her astonishing voice — but now, finally, hearing it singing the long-overdue lead.
Expressing how she wanted the audience to “feel as good” as she and her band members felt on this 2016 Valentine’s Day eve, Love recognized all of the couples in the audience who’ve been married 50 years or more and gave each of them a gift of a rose. She also invited veterans in the crowd to come forward and accept a rose from her in gratitude for their service and sacrifice.
For Darlene Love truly knows about sacrifice and gratitude. And as the smell of roses filled the theater, Love became emotional with gratitude to — as she confessed — “be able to still do this.”
According to Love, despite her past, she has no hate, calling it “too heavy a burden to carry” and, instead, inviting everyone in attendance at the Bergen PAC to share in the laughter and good feelings which radiate from her music — notably such hits as “He’s a Rebel,” “Da Doo Ron Ron,” and the sublime “River Deep, Mountain High,” a song which was originally promised to her, made famous by Tina Turner, but, ultimately, has become a signature Love live-concert classic.
Closing her show with a performance for the ages, electrifying the congregration with her powerful, “Do I love you? My oh my,” the answer was obvious as the crowd jumped to its feet — dancing, clapping, and singing — attesting that they do, indeed, love Love…river deep, and mountain high.
For more info on Darlene Love’s “Introducing Darlene Love” album, her live concert schedule, and more, go to darleneloveworld.com, and for information on upcoming events at Bergen PAC — including Ringo Starr & His All Star Band on June 7, 2016 — go to bergenpac.org.
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